Charles Harold Ochse Jr, (Sonny) 90, of Helena, MO passed away Friday, April 4, 2025 in St. Joseph, MO. He was born in St. Joseph on March 24, 1935 to Charles Harold Sr. & Norma Doris (Patton) Ochse. He married Lois Lemasters in St. Joseph, MO on October 19, 1957, they were married for 67 years. Lois passed away in February of 2025.
Charles began working at Swift & Company in St. Joseph after graduating from high school in Clarksdale. He moved with Swift to Phoenix in 1968 and then to their Company Headquarters in Chicago in 1972.
In 1979 he left Swift to become a plant manager for Louis Rich turkey in Newberry SC. He retired from Louis Rich in the early 90’s but returned to Swift to run their Butterball Turkey facilities in Detroit Lakes MN and Longmont CO before finally retiring back to the family farm in Helena.
Survivors include his sons; Steven Ochse of St. Joseph and C. Michael (Lisa) Ochse of Clermont FL, grandchildren, Cameron Ochse and Mitchell Ochse; brother, Dennis (Susan) Ochse of Helena, MO; with numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation and family receiving hours will be 5:00pm – 7:00pm Friday, April 11, 2025 at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home in Savannah, MO. Funeral services will be 10:00am Saturday, April 12, 2025 at Breit-Hawkins Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Bethel Cemetery in Cosby, MO.
